88 Raising A Picky Eater ? THERE’S HOPE WORDS: Dr. Kirstina Ordetx There are a variety of causes related to the development of picky and problem eaters in childhood. The child may have experience with any of the following: • Fear of novelty • Negative history associated with food (choking, acid re��ux) • Exaggerated sensory responses • Parental anxiety or stress at mealtime • Previous reinforcement of negative patterns • Miscommunication/inconsistent messages A common scenario may depict the dinner table where the child is offered new foods, throws a tantrum and refuses altogether, and out of sheer exhaustion and defeat the parent gives the child access to his preferred foods. Thus, the child is reinforced for the very behavior that the parent wishes to eliminate. If you are reading this and feeling guilty, don’t! We have all been there. There is a chance that your child will outgrow it, as children can become selective about eating around 18 months of age and let’s face it, most young children are ��nicky about eating at some point during childhood. However, if the problem is escalating over time, seems incongruent with the eating habits of other children his age, or begins to impact the family’s quality of life, then it may be time to seek advice and develop a plan. Rest assured that picky eating is much easier to treat in the child’s early years, and there are approaches that are effective.
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